Varanasi, considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, sits on the banks of the Ganges and functions as Hinduism's holiest city, pilgrims come to bathe in the sacred river, and many devout Hindus travel here specifically to die, believing it grants liberation from the cycle of rebirth. The ghats lining the riverfront are the heart of daily religious life.
The Ghats
A dawn boat ride along the Ganges is Varanasi's essential experience, pilgrims bathing, priests performing rituals, and the sun rising directly over the water, all viewed from a small wooden boat as the city slowly wakes. Arrive at the ghats before sunrise to secure a boat and catch the light at its best.
Manikarnika Ghat, one of the city's main cremation ghats, is not a spectacle to photograph casually, cremations happen continuously and openly, a practice deeply significant to Hindu belief, and visitors should observe respectfully rather than treat it as tourism.
Evening Ritual and the Old City
The Ganga Aarti ceremony, performed nightly at Dashashwamedh Ghat, involves priests waving large flaming lamps in synchronised ritual to the river, accompanied by chanting and bells, arrive by boat on the water for the best vantage point, away from the dense crowds on the ghat steps themselves.
The old city's narrow lanes behind the ghats form a genuine maze of temples, shops, and shrines, getting lost here, within reason, is part of the experience, though a local guide is useful for navigating both the physical maze and its religious significance.
Recommended Stay · Varanasi · Darbhanga Ghat
BrijRama Palace
A restored 18th-century palace directly on the ghats, accessible only by boat or on foot, with rooms looking straight out over the Ganges and the dawn ritual activity below.
